Paid Staff Manifesto

Here are my current convictions regarding a day when The Core may have paid staff (I don't expect this to be relevant anytime soon, but I want to get these thoughts down while they're fresh, and hopefully create some dialog.)

1) The only reason The Core will ever have paid staff is if it seems right to us and to the Holy Spirit to expect a greater time commitment from someone than can reasonably be expected of a volunteer. This includes the consideration that staff members should prioritize their time alone with God, spouse and children higher than time spent in formal ministry work.

2) The Core will strive not to hire someone to do work that could effectually be done by volunteers. Otherwise we risk denying said volunteers the opportunity to worship God with their gifts.

3) The Core will do its best to offer fair market wages to all paid staff, based on the wages of those with similar levels of skill, experience, education and responsibility in the secular marketplace. However, team members of The Core who are offered a paid position will be asked if they can afford to take less, for the sake of the ongoing financial solvency of The Core. But for the record, no one will be guilted into this, or second-guessed about their answer.

4) The Core will not consider some positions to be "ministry" positions, as opposed to others. We are all to work "as for the Lord" whether we are cleaning, singing, filing, or teaching. If a job is necessary, then it shares equal importance to the Kingdom, and to The Core, with all other necessary jobs.

5) The Core will not hire people from the community unless it is absolutely necessary. In other words, we will not deny a team member of The Core the opportunity to do a job well, just because we have the money to hire someone from the community to do it better. (see also #2)

6) The Core will treat all staff with the utmost respect and professionalism. We do not have an excuse to cut corners or mistreat people because we are a church. We will always strive for clarity and honesty in working relationships, steering clear of spin, sugar-coating, and politics.

7) In light of #6, we will not withhold affirmation and reward from those who excel, or corrective action from those who do not. If any staff members are not performing well, we must consider it our Christian duty to help them find a better fit, even if such a fit does not exist within The Core. We will not string people along in a wrong job in order to avoid hurting their feelings.